As part of the DAAD university partnership 'Centres of the Future', an interdisciplinary summer school on the topic of 'Thinking with Your Hands' and the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) method was held. Over the course of a week, students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) collaborated closely to apply the innovative, co-creative and communicative LSP method to urban and spatial development. The results will be included in the third joint publication. The workshop was led by Michael Barsakidis, an LSP Master Trainer.
Running alongside the summer school was a research workshop for scientists, including professors and doctoral students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), at the Institute for Environmental Planning in Hanover. A city tour led by Prof. Dr. Axel Priebs and Prof. Dr. Rainer Danielzyk provided comprehensive insights into the urban development of Hanover and the surrounding region. A particular highlight was visiting the four city models in the New Town Hall and the Town Hall Tower, which offered participants an impressive bird's-eye view of Hanover. This was followed by an exchange with the Office for Participation, Culture and Urban Development (BBS) and the Coordination Office for Resident Participation in Hanover. There was a lively discussion about participatory processes and their implementation in Thessaloniki and Hanover, as well as disciplinary approaches in architecture and planning.
During the workshop week, visits were also made to Wolfsburg and Hamburg's HafenCity, as well as to Hanover's Limmer waterfront district and Ihme Centre. In a public presentation, Fyllio Katsavounidou, an associate professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, provided insight into the research topic 'Climate-Resilient Urban Playspaces'.
The summer school and workshop aim to strengthen international cooperation and provide new impetus for sustainable urban development in both cities. 'Centres of the Future' is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the DAAD as part of the 'University Partnerships with Greece' program.
For more information, visit: https://future-centres.eu/
